• Failure can be negative, but there are positive effects as well.

• Reviewing and discussing failure assists us to place it in a positive perspective.

• We can boost self-confidence in youth by helping them take a positive approach to failure.

In school, we learn that failure is bad.

In the entrepreneurial arena failure can teach us positive lessons.

We learn what does not work.

Failure enables us to create new ways to reach our goals.

We learn from our mistakes.

This leads to confidence.

When times are tough we learn to persevere.

Napoleon Hill, author of ‘Think And Grow Rich’ wrote that,

“Every failure carries with it a seed of equal or greater benefit.”

HOW TO HELP:

REVIEW:

• • • Check what worked and what didn’t.

    • Avoid criticism about a failure.

    • Discuss what factors lead to failure.

    • Focus on what can be done better next time.

    • Brainstorm ways to prevent it from happening again.

PERSISTENCE:

• • • Find the “learning lesson” in each challenge.

    • Encourage children to look for alternatives.

    • Avoid letting them give up.

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE:

• • • Review expecting and anticipating failure.

    • Promote doing things that are difficult rather than easy.

    • Discuss how life is about trial and error.

BE ACCOUNTABLE:

• • • Review accepting their part in a difficult situation.

    • Discuss why owning up to your faults and actions are admirable qualities.

BE COURAGEOUS:

• • • Have them do things outside of their comfort zone.

    • Promote learning to take risks.

BE RESILIENT:

• • • Encourage them to look at the brighter side of failure.

    • Have them make plans on how to improve.

    • Review bouncing back from failure.

If you wish to read more about this subject you can find an earlier post “FEAR OF FAILURE -The Positive Side of Facing Fears”

http://www.ourfutureleaders.ca/program-activities/fear-of-failure-the-positive-side-of-facing-fears/

A PARENT’S GUIDE:

Much of the above material is contained in the PARENT’S GUIDE which assists parents and others working with youth.

The guide enables a person to be proactive in the success of a child’s future.

It contains activities to assist youth to gain critical soft skills.

They will become more resourceful and independent when they practice and gain these skills.

The guide is available from Our Future Leaders.

Request the Parent’s Guide here: http://www.ourfutureleaders.ca/contact-us/